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Upgrade current bike or save for a new bike

874 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by archer, Dec 23, 2009

Straz85

Discussion Starter · Dec 21, 2009

Last spring, I bought a 2008 Kona Four. It was the most I was willing to spend at the time, having not ridden in 7 or 8 years. It cost me $1000, for that I got:

-Rockshox Dart 2
-Rockshox Bar 2.1 rear shock
-Shimano Deore components
-Hayes MX4 mechanical disc brakes

That should give you a good idea of the bike, you can see more details here if you'd like. Anyway, I've quickly learned that I'd like to upgrade many parts of the bike. I already ordered a new fork (Rockshox Recon SL Air, 2008 model on closeout) and Shimano clipless pedals. I would also like hydraulic discs and a new rear shock, and I have a feeling that I'll soon want to upgrade the derailleurs. I've also been toying with the idea of trying to get the weight of the bike down (should be between 30 and 31lbs once I get the new fork and pedals on).

So what I'm getting at, is it worth upgrading, or am I better off saving my money and spending more on a whole new bike?

Thanks in advance!

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Berkeley Mike

· #2 · Dec 21, 2009

This is hard because

you have already decided that upgrading parts makes your ride better somehow now that you are back and riding. Welcome back by the way. Further you have already started spending money on it. You are talking about spending $700-$1000 to get weight down and you haven't even considered wheels.

New riders (not you in this case but with similarities) can obsess over which bike to buy and I always tell them to get an entry level HT, ride them, and figure out what you like but don't put money into upgrading. In some ways the first bike is expendable. It is cost effective.

I would stop spending money on this bike now and save for the next bike. However you have the dreaded upgradis jonesis and it is hard to turn guys around once that gets going.

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Jim311

· #3 · Dec 21, 2009

You started with a pretty good frame, but not so great shock and fork, which IMO are major components. I think if you sell your current bike you could get at least 600 bucks for it, and that would go a good ways towards a newer and higher end closeout bike. Check www.wheelworld.com as they have some deals on Konas right now.

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Straz85

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 21, 2009

Thanks for the advice guys. The reason I already bought the fork is because if I end up going the new bike route, it'll be at least a year, I am in the process of planning my wedding, and the budget definitely doesn't allow for the $1000 or so necessary (in addition to what I get from selling my current bike) to upgrade the whole thing. I really hate the Dart 2, so I figured the great deal I got on the new fork made it worth getting. If I sell the bike in a year, I'll put the Dart 2 back on it, and sell the Recon separately and make back probably 2/3 of what I spend on it, if not more. I didn't really consider the pedals an upgrade, more of a change in preference, if that makes any sense.

Anyway, I think I may try to stick to the bike as is for a while. If anything breaks, I'll upgrade, if I find a great deal on something, I may make an impulse buy (I tend to make a lot of impulse buys, the voice in my head always says "come on, you can't say no to that price"), but I won't go seeking out new parts. I pretty much just wanted to see what makes more sense, upgrading or starting from the beginning.

Thanks again. Any more responses are definitely welcome.

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Scott O

· #5 · Dec 21, 2009

Straz85 said:
I am in the process of planning my wedding,.

This changes everything. Buy absolutely as much gear right now as you can possibly fit onto your credit card. New mtb, road bike, single speed, 29er, cross bike, cross bow, bb gun, guitar, amp, ski boots, skis, xc ski gear, another new bike, a karate outfit, a monkey, guitar and amp for the monkey, pickup truck, beer making kit, dog, skateboard, surfboard, boogie board, vaporizer, bike light, and a box of chia pets.

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Jim311

· #6 · Dec 22, 2009

Solid advice from Scott.

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Berkeley Mike

· #7 · Dec 22, 2009

The new info changes everything.

I'm totally with Scott on this.:thumbsup:

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Straz85

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 22, 2009

Scott O said:
This changes everything. Buy absolutely as much gear right now as you can possibly fit onto your credit card. New mtb, road bike, single speed, 29er, cross bike, cross bow, bb gun, guitar, amp, ski boots, skis, xc ski gear, another new bike, a karate outfit, a monkey, guitar and amp for the monkey, pickup truck, beer making kit, dog, skateboard, surfboard, boogie board, vaporizer, bike light, and a box of chia pets.

Amazing. You get a beer for that post:

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LyNx

· #9 · Dec 22, 2009

I say....don't mind the guys giving you a hard time ab out the getting maried thing, if she's a keeper you won't need to go crazy before on getting stuff because she'll immasculate you

On the bike, the fork is a GREAT upgrade, something I would definitely have done myself - a noodly fork is just annoying and dangerous. As to the rest of the parts, simply ride the bike and upgrade when something breaks OR when you find a fantastic deal on something - You have a very good base frame, but we all know buying a complete bike is normally cheaper than upgrading lower end version UNLESS you know how to look and shop for deals.

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Prophet Julio

· #10 · Dec 22, 2009

+1 on LyNx

Upgrade the fork and rear shock. The basic components all work, so upgrade other components when they break. The wheelset (including hubs) is the next big upgrade. You could end up with a nice bike after a few crashes!

Good bones though, so ride it fast and have fun.

I ride with my wife. She's fast!

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sru

· #11 · Dec 22, 2009

Agree,

you have a solid frame, so I say ride it, break it, upgrade it. For some, dropping $400.00 once per year on a bike part is alot easier than dropping $2-3000.00 every 4-5 years on a new bike.

Since you haven't ridden in a while, chances are you will be breaking and bending parts on a regular basis, I know I did when I started riding. Just buy good quality replacement parts so you can swap them to a new frame in the future.

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Straz85

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 23, 2009

LyNx said:
As to the rest of the parts, simply ride the bike and upgrade when something breaks OR when you find a fantastic deal on something

This was the plan originally, then I had a couple people tell me it was not worth it and just to save for a new bike. I guess it will depend a lot on where I stand in a year or two. If I haven't spent anymore on my current bike, maybe I'll just get a new one, but if I've upgraded parts because of great deals I found or because I broke something, I'll probably stick with the Kona, upgrade to nice parts, and I can get a new frame somewhere down the road.

Thanks!

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archer

· #13 · Dec 23, 2009

Put back some squirrel money from time to time and you may be surprised what you can aford when it is time.

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